Locomotion Museum at Shildon is making history by bringing together for the very last time six famous steam engines from around the world.
They are The Mallard; the Sir Nigel Gresley; The Bittern;
the Union of South Africa; the Dominion of Canada and the
Dwight D Eisenhower.
75,000 enthusiasts are expected to visit and yesterday, many had already arrived .  Elaborate cameras were much in evidence and it was touching to see elderly men instructing their small grandsons in the mystery of steam engines and reminding them of how Shildon had been involved in the growth of the railways and enjoyed employment and wealth as the industry thrived.
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Mallard with its Five Surviving Sister Engines.

The Bittern

 Extreme Weather.

People who live here in County Durham, in the north-east of England, are prepared for extreme weather when winters last twice as long as those in the south. The temperatures are lower; the snow thicker and the ice on the roads  more treacherous. However, this winter we are counting our blessings. Already at the beginning of February, there have been no snowfalls and while we listen to talk of desperate flooding in the west of England we have escaped it here. This may be because of our steep hills and extensive moorland – our beautiful scenery that is not widely known or appreciated.

We can only sympathise with the people who live on the Somerset Levels where flooding has been extensive since Christmas.  According to Radio 4 the rainfall has been the most unusual for 100 years so that the land below our island is a saturated sponge and it was feared that the Severn Bore on Saturday would intensify the problems. One farmer reported that 95% of his land is under water and a lady told how her house is now surrounded by a moat and she has to clear the sludge that is full of dead earthworms!

Meanwhile in Aberystwyth mountainous waves crash over the sea front damaging the promenade and flooding the elegant houses there.

And still the rain continues. 

                      The Somerset Levels, 

"The Curious Incident . . . "

I remember reading Mark Haddon’s novel, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” when it was first published.  In fact I once wrote a review of it as part of a competition entry and was fortunate to be amongst the winners.

A story where the main character was a boy with learning difficulties, was a brave thing to attempt in 2003 and might well have been a complete disaster.  Instead it became a best seller and its followers are now flocking to see it live on stage. Had I been in London last week I might well have joined the 7000 people at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Imagine the shock they must have felt when the ceiling cracked and rumbled and fell on top of them, covering everybody in dust and debris; injuring 70 people, with seven severely hurt. Amazingly there were no deaths but that audience will always remember Mark Haddon’s “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

An extra if unexpected flood of publicity.

St Mary's Parish Church in Barnard Castle held a magical Christmas Tree Festival last weekend.
55 trees of every shape and size; decorated in ingenious ways by the town's businesses; organisations and schools, brought light to the shadowy interior of the building.
Mulled wine and warm mince pies added to the occasion.

A View from the Altar.

Knitting

I am not a great lover of knitted dolls or the knitted scenes that have suddenly become very popular. However I do admire the skill of the knitters and I can imagine the pleasure they must get from choosing wools from the vast array of colours and types that are available in the shops these days.

Last weekend the Darlington Stitch Bombers crept into the town centre in the middle of one night and decorated the High Row with their wonderful work. Intricately-made dolls were everywhere; colourful bunting flew high and even the bollards had brightly coloured covers to add to the atmosphere of Christmas in these cold December days. 

But before I’d had a chance to see it, vandals had destroyed the whole display – nothing but a bit of bunting and two tiny knitted mice remained to show the hours of work that must have gone into that display.

And yet in the little Victorian town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the same type of knitting has decorated the pier for several years.  The work depicts local activities and even the Olympic Games and in contrast to Darlington, this attracts visitors, not vandals.

Olympic athletes with their gold medals.

It’s hard to imagine the senseless behaviour that led to the Darlington destruction.

Were they drunken louts or simply ordinary citizens with a grudge against knitting?

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month.

Once again the dead of the Great Wars have been honoured; first on Saturday evening with a ceremony in London’s Albert Hall where much of the emphasis was on children, with the Poppy Girls, a group of 5 charming little girls who sang together beautifully followed later by a young boy chorister and finally by a nine year old girl who spoke up in a loud and clear voice that could be heard all round the Hall while her 7 year old sister stood near by.

Armistice Day was celebrated at the Cenotaph in London yesterday; the Sunday closest to the 11th.November and it was remarkable that the Queen and Prince Philip were both well enough to lay wreaths followed by several other members of the Royal family and public dignitaries.

Now the government has decided that for every man who won the Victoria Cross, a golden paving stone will be laid outside his home, 100 years after it was awarded.

A wonderful and fitting tribute for all to see.

Children in the News

In a week when children have filled the news there has been both joy and sadness.

Joy when royal baby Prince George Alexander Louis was baptised  by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the historic Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace.  It was a quiet ceremony – photographs afterwards showed George to be remarkably like his father, Prince William and yet I caught a glimpse of the Queen’s determination in that small face.  He wore a christening gown of magnificent cream lace; a replica of one used by Queen Victoria and he was supported by seven godparents, carefully chosen to guide him through life.

The Queen and Prince Philip looked proudly on, as three male heirs to the throne ensure the continuity of the Royal Family and renewed popularity from the people.

In contrast the McCann family continue their six year search for Madeleine, with a photograph of her in a pink floppy sun hat that would melt the hardest of hearts.

The Portuguese police have re-opened the case while Scotland Yard also focuses on the abduction.

By co-incidence a little girl with blond hair and blue eyes was removed from a family of Greek gypsies and proved to belong to a Bulgarian family of a similar type.  Was she given away or was she sold?  Either way it is a sad start to her life and we can only imagine how mystified she must be feeling now.  No wonder her press photographs show her looking so forlorn.

Good luck to them all in the years to come.